Category:

Theatre

Today Nick Moran may be better known as an actor from a film like Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, but judging by this darkly comic profile of Sixties record producer Joe Meek- begun in leaner times with James Hicks- he’s also a playwright of considerable accomplishment.

It’s rare and inspirational indeed to come across a production where everything blends with perfect precision. Just as George Seurat was renowned for his innovative technique and prescient vision as an artist, so the Menier Chocolate Factory’s production of Sondheim & Lapine’s musical- now transferring to the West End- utilises compelling new computer projection to bring the painter’s world to richly unforgettable life.

First produced in 1992, it says much for the Lyric’s current revival of Tony Kushner’s epic two part play that, despite clocking in at over six and a half hours of drama, the vast majority of this (a few superfluous moments aside) offers theatre of the highest calibre: riveting, darkly humorous and profoundly humane, a triumphant revival in all respects.

Biography

Amanda is a freelance writer and journalist, specialising in biography, theatre and literary history.

A longstanding book reviewer for The Good Book Guide, she started her career reviewing films, has subsequently interviewed figures such as Sir John Mills and Leslie Phillips and has reviewed plays widely for both print and online publications including The Sunday Times and Whatsonstage.com